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1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2.3Dog Days of Disney….You can bring your furry friend!http://madaboutthemouse.net/dog-days-of-disney-you-can-bring-your-furry-friend/
http://madaboutthemouse.net/dog-days-of-disney-you-can-bring-your-furry-friend/#respondWed, 14 Aug 2019 17:55:04 +0000http://madaboutthemouse.net/?p=8214When it comes time to take a family vacation, you really want to include the entire family, and that means your canine companion, too. While some of you may already know about Disney’s Fort Wilderness allowing dogs at the campsites, they’ve now extended that to the cabins. What you may not realize is, there are …

]]>When it comes time to take a family vacation, you really want to include the entire family, and that means your canine companion, too. While some of you may already know about Disney’s Fort Wilderness allowing dogs at the campsites, they’ve now extended that to the cabins. What you may not realize is, there are a few more resorts that have now implemented the pet policy!
There’s one from every resort category!

Disney’s Art of Animation, Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside, and Disney’s Yacht Club each have select rooms and floors for canine-friendly accommodations up to two dogs per room. The dog-friendly policies at these resorts have been in place for about a year now, but are still listed as, “for a limited time.” At Disney’s Fort Wilderness campground sites, the charge is $5 per night. At the cabins, Art of Animation, and Port Orleans Riverside, the added charge is $50.00 per night, and at Yacht Club it is $75.00 per night. Current vaccination records must be available upon request, so have a copy of those documents with you at check-in. Also, be sure to ask for your “Pluto’s Welcome Kit” upon check in which includes a Pet ID tag, a mat, doggie bags, bowls, and a dog-walking map! Also included is a “Do Not Disturb sign” indicating a pet is in the room.

Now before you get too excited envisioning your furry companion lounging by your side at the pool, or strolling along with you through the Magic Kingdom, let’s explore some of the rules. First, your dog must be well behaved and well trained. While in the room, they are not allowed on furniture and must be kept in a carrier or on a leash while outside of your room. With the exception of service dogs, they are not allowed in the Theme Parks, Water Parks, ESPN Wide World of Sports or Disney Springs, pool areas, Clubs, Lounges, Fitness Centers or Food and Beverage locations. However, there are designated areas around the Resort to walk and play with your furry friend. If you’re staying at Fort Wilderness, be sure to check out Waggin Trails Dog Park! There’s lots of room to toss a ball or throw a Frisbee and your dog will get a chance to socialize with other dogs. After all, it’s their vacation too!

Waggin Trails Dog Park at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

When considering bringing your pooch, you must practice good dog parenting skills. Dogs cannot be left alone in your room for more than seven hours, and housekeeping will not enter your room when your dog is present as long as you leave your provided “Do Not Disturb” sign on your door.

As for transportation options, you can use either Disney’s Magical Express, Disney’s Minnie Vans to get to, from, and around the Resorts, but your pet must be kept in a carrier during the trip. Dogs are not permitted on any other Resort transportation, including the monorail. Of course, you can always use your vehicle or RV, if you have one!

If all of
this seems like you may be limiting the enjoyment of your vacation, your fur-ever
baby can be pampered at Best Friends Pet Care (bestfriendspetcare.com) for a
fee. Here, you can send your pooch to be
pampered in luxury accommodations or Doggie Day Camp while you are out for the
day. They are located about five minutes
from Fort Wilderness and even offer doggie cams so you can check in and chat
with your pet! They open one hour before
Park opening and are usually open until 1:00am.

Best Friends Pet CareLooks pretty comfy!

I think we
can all agree that it would be a true family experience if we could bring our
furry children with us on a Disney vacation!
However, like parents know their children, dog owners know the
personality and limits of their pets.
Consider their temperament, their ability to be left alone for six or
seven hours, or even if they may feel stressed while in transit. All of these things must be considered first
for the love, care and sake of our pets.
If you feel they would be best left with a sitter or boarded at home
while you are away, you can always shop for the new Disney pet merchandise to
bring home for them as a souvenir! It’s adorable!

Disney Pet Souvenirs are in most gift shops!Cassie modeling her Minnie Ears!

]]>http://madaboutthemouse.net/dog-days-of-disney-you-can-bring-your-furry-friend/feed/0The Allure of Bargain Shopping for a Disney Vacation…is it worth it?http://madaboutthemouse.net/the-allure-of-bargain-shopping-for-a-disney-vacation-is-it-worth-it/
http://madaboutthemouse.net/the-allure-of-bargain-shopping-for-a-disney-vacation-is-it-worth-it/#respondTue, 06 Aug 2019 14:42:48 +0000http://madaboutthemouse.net/?p=8202There is no doubt that the cost of a Walt Disney World vacation can bring sticker shock to even the most affluent of travelers. It’s also why many begin seeking out better deals through booking engines. However, if you’re getting the notion that staying off of Disney property might save you some substantial money, you …

There is no
doubt that the cost of a Walt Disney World vacation can bring sticker shock to
even the most affluent of travelers.
It’s also why many begin seeking out better deals through booking
engines. However, if you’re getting the
notion that staying off of Disney property might save you some substantial
money, you may want to take a closer look.
Transportation costs, hidden fees, time and stress, all become major
factors, not to mention the age of your children and the “gear”
required to cart them along. Let’s just
compare the basics:

1.
Transportation: If you’re staying off property, you are going
to need a car rental. This can run you
anywhere between $320 – $450 per week, depending upon the car you choose. This figure does not include added Collision
insurance or Loss and Damage Waiver fees.
Some rental companies even charge extra for car seats. Many off-site
hotels even charge per night for parking (approx. $12) while a few claim to be
“free.” However, to drive to,
and park your car at any one of Disney’s Parks, you will pay $25.00 per day. If you plan on taking advantage of your
off-site hotel’s complimentary shuttle, don’t plan on staying to see any
fireworks as most of these shuttles have their latest pick up times before show
time, and their run times during the day are very limited!

Waiting for your off site shuttle

Comparatively,
if you are staying at a Disney Resort, you can pick up complimentary
transportation from and to the airport via Disney’s Magical Express. They also pick up your luggage and deliver it
to your room. Getting around the entire
Resort gives you several options for transportation (i.e. Monorail, bus, ferryboat,
water taxi, and Skyliner coming in September), all of which will get you
between Resort Hotels, Parks, and Disney Springs, at no extra charge. If you must have your car with you, there is
a per night fee of $25.00 at your Resort, but the fee is waived at the Parks should
you decide to drive yourself.

Disney’s Magical Express

2.
Hotel Stay: Navigating a hotel stay off-site should come
with a “buyer beware,” neon sign.
Those low rates really catch your eye, and for good reason. They intentionally show you that bargain rate
for $75 – $100 – – then the fine print comes in and hits you. What they don’t tell you about is the nightly
“resort fee.” This fee can
range, but is on average about $30 per night.
Then, there’s the tax, and of course, the parking fee, and none of these
were listed in that initial rate I saw taunting me. For packages you may have sent ahead of time,
they charge a $3 handling fee, and $25.00 per 100lbs. per package. The takeaway on booking an off-site hotel – –
add at least $50 to that base price to get the real picture, and if you have
more than four people in that room, plan on a little more.

Caribe Royale

Now if
you’re staying at a Disney Resort Hotel, the price is the price. No resort fee to add in. If you are mailing packages to your Resort
ahead of time, the fee is $6 per package.
There is also a $25.00 per night parking fee for your car, but again,
it’s waived if you choose to drive to the Parks yourself. You can stay at the Parks until they close if
you like, and enjoy special early opening hours, or late night hours only
available to Resort Guests. If you’re
buying those souvenirs, you can charge them to your Resort account with putting
a credit card on file, and request to
have any purchases you have made while at the Parks or Disney Springs,
delivered to your room at no extra charge.
Did I mention that if you go during a
busy time of year, Disney Resort Guests have first priority for entry? Oh, and
if you’re booking a room with tickets and/or Dining Plan, you only put down a
$200 deposit, and get to finance your vacation until you pay it off 30 days
before you leave. Which leads me to my
next point….

3.
Tickets: If you’re looking to stay off-site, chances
are, you’re looking for those deals on tickets, too. Okay, so you get those tickets. You link them to your My Disney Experience
app. You cannot book any FastPasses
until 30 days before your trip, and there are no complimentary Magic Bands
unless you want to purchase them on your own ($15 each for the basic ones). You can always go with the paper or card
tickets instead, but if the Parks reach
capacity, off-site guests will be the first to be denied entry even if they
have a ticket.

If you
decide to stay on Disney property, you may be able to get lucky on catching a
room and ticket offer. Even if it’s not
initially offered at the time you decide to book, one might come along and be
applied to your reservation at a later date before your trip. Either way, you will get your Magic Band
which will link your room, tickets, dining, purchases, FastPass reservations,
and other things all in one convenient little bracelet. Again, Disney Resort Guests also get priority
when entering the Parks, even when it gets crowded.

4.
Time and Stress: I put these two together because
in Disney, time IS stress if it’s not handled right! If you’re staying off-site, you have to take
the time to drive to the hotel, drive from hotel to Parks, deal with possible
traffic and bottlenecking coming and going, time to park, time to gather your
things, time to get the Tram to the boat, from the boat to the entrance of the
Park, time in line for baggage check.
After all of that, now you’re already a little stressed out. You enjoy the Park, it gets hot and the kids
are cranky, tired and hungry. If you’re off-site and you want to go take a
break, you have to go through all of that again to leave, and then again to
return in the evening (if you’re even up to it at this point!).

Now picture
this: You’re staying on Disney property,
and you take your preferred Disney transportation
method to the Park. Right there you have
eliminated parking, Tram and trying to remember if you parked in Goofy, Donald,
or one of the Seven Dwarfs. You get to
the Gate that much faster, go through baggage check, and you enjoy the day
until it gets too hot, and everyone gets hungry, cranky or tired. At that point, you just hop on your
complimentary transportation and go to your Resort for a dip in the pool, something
to eat, perhaps even a nap. Best of all,
you’re still immersed in the Disney magic!
Now you get to hop on your transportation and head back to the Park for
more fun in the cooler evening hours and close down the Park with the “Kiss
Goodnight!”

Apples to Apples:

To give a
real comparison, I took a hotel that I have personally stayed at and know to be
clean, safe, reputable and comfortable.
I based the cost of my stay for a family of 5 (2 Adults, 3 Children),
with travel dates of August 8 – 15, 2019.
This hotel is really close to the Main Gate of Walt Disney World, and
had an advertised rate of $100 per night.
That rate quickly turned into $153 for five people. I also chose the lowest grade of a SUV car
rental with a pick up and drop off at Orlando International Airport, opted in
for the added insurance, and only one driver.
No gas or car seats were included in this price. Here’s the breakdown: Hotel (room, taxes, resort fee, nightly
parking) $1,536.36 + rental car $458.91 + Disney parking fee for 6 days $150.00
= $2,145.27.

For Disney,
I used the same dates. I didn’t add in a
car rental since I wouldn’t need one. I
was able to find a non-discounted, room only, at a Disney’s Caribbean Beach
Resort – Preferred Room (MODERATE, NOT VALUE), all taxes and transportation
included, for $1,845.03.

That’s a
$300.24 savings if you stay at a Disney Resort!
If I were to purchase my tickets from a reputable source, I can get a 1
Park per day, buy 4 days and get 2 days free (no Water Parks), for 5 people (4
adults, 1 Child) for $2,213.24. From Disney, I can get Summer One World
Tickets for 6 days, same categories, 4 days at the Parks AND get 2 Water Parks
for $2,332.35! I could save $119.11 and
skip the Water Parks, but why? Even with
the “other” ticket seller, I’m still saving $181.13, a lot of time,
and a lot of stress by staying at a Disney Resort.

Everyone has different circumstances, and deals and offers may vary. The bottom line is that you cannot always trust those initial “bargain” offers. Always read the fine print, do your research, and really add up all those hidden expenses before you decide. More importantly, save yourself the time and stress and discuss your options with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner Agency like Dreams by Design Travel – – they have the experience and can guide you on getting the most out of your vacation budget. Thanks for reading! ~~~Debbie Benson

]]>http://madaboutthemouse.net/the-allure-of-bargain-shopping-for-a-disney-vacation-is-it-worth-it/feed/0Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Coming to Walt Disney World Resort on August 29, 2019!http://madaboutthemouse.net/star-wars-galaxys-edge-coming-to-walt-disney-world-resort-on-august-29-2019/
http://madaboutthemouse.net/star-wars-galaxys-edge-coming-to-walt-disney-world-resort-on-august-29-2019/#respondWed, 12 Jun 2019 17:30:37 +0000http://madaboutthemouse.net/?p=8186On August 29, 2019, get ready to explore an all-new Star Wars land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios*! This is the chance to live your Star Wars story—and discover who you truly are in a galaxy far, far away… This year, Mad About the Mouse will get to experience Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge on BOTH coasts as we experience it …

On August 29, 2019, get ready to explore an all-new Star Wars land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios*! This is the chance to live your Star Wars story—and discover who you truly are in a galaxy far, far away…

This year, Mad About the Mouse will get to experience Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge on BOTH coasts as we experience it during the D23 Expo in Anaheim in August and also at Walt Disney World Resort in October. Stay tuned as we bring pictures and video to our Mad About the Mouse readers!!! ~Donna/Joe Sharick

*Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and its experiences are subject to capacity. Access to the park, land and experiences may be restricted or unavailable depending on Guest demand and other factors.

]]>http://madaboutthemouse.net/star-wars-galaxys-edge-coming-to-walt-disney-world-resort-on-august-29-2019/feed/0Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is now open at Disneyland Resort!http://madaboutthemouse.net/toy-story-land-welcoming-new-guests/
http://madaboutthemouse.net/toy-story-land-welcoming-new-guests/#respondThu, 19 Jul 2018 17:31:18 +0000http://madaboutthemouse.net/?p=8091 The all new land that was announced on August 15, 2015 at The D23 Expo is now finished and accepting guests to the planet of Batuu. Reviews are in and it’s unlike anything Disney has ever done before! Will you be visiting Batuu this year?

]]> The all new land that was announced on August 15, 2015 at The D23 Expo is now finished and accepting guests to the planet of Batuu. Reviews are in and it’s unlike anything Disney has ever done before! Will you be visiting Batuu this year?

]]>http://madaboutthemouse.net/toy-story-land-welcoming-new-guests/feed/0Ready….Set…..BOOK! Your 2019 Walt Disney World trip, that is!http://madaboutthemouse.net/ready-set-book-2019-walt-disney-world-trip/
http://madaboutthemouse.net/ready-set-book-2019-walt-disney-world-trip/#respondFri, 15 Jun 2018 20:55:34 +0000http://madaboutthemouse.net/?p=8075If you go to Disney every year like we do, you must be getting excited that the 2019 Walt Disney Travel Company Package Rates will be released on Tuesday, June 19th!~!~!~! More than any year that I can even remember, 2019 is going to be the year to go to Walt Disney World! Toy Story …

If you go to Disney every year like we do, you must be getting excited that the 2019 Walt Disney Travel Company Package Rates will be released on Tuesday, June 19th!~!~!~!

More than any year that I can even remember, 2019 is going to be the year to go to Walt Disney World! Toy Story Land is opening in two weeks and it will still be wildly popular well in to the new year! Of course, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and we can’t forget Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway….all brand new lands and attractions you will want to be sure to experience!

My advice for 2019 is BOOK EARLY because that will give you the best choice of your resort and availability. Of course, we always recommend having a travel agent handle those busy details for you! Whether you book your vacation yourself or have our official travel agency, Dreams by Design Travel, book it for you, you are paying the same price! In fact, by booking online with Disney or over the phone, a commission is built in to the price so you are paying for a service you don’t receive! Dreams by Design charges NO FEES for their CONCIERGE SERVICE! Always Book your Disney vacation with a Disney Earmarked Agency!

Dreams by Design Travel is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner! We have been given this special designation by The Walt Disney Travel Company because we have demonstrated a high level of service and expertise that our clients know and have come to expect! Let us SHOW YOU! ~DONNA~